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Rob Cohen(2002)

118min

12 Certificate

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Review

Our Score

by Alan Jones

James Bond can rest easy. Vin Diesel cements his action-star status as "a new breed of secret agent", but in every other respect this junk Bond from director Rob Cohen is just pure, turbo-driven exploitation - dumb, fun and full of elaborate computer-generated stunts. Diesel plays extreme-sports hero Xander Cage, coerced by US government agent Samuel L Jackson into infiltrating the Prague-based "Anarchy 99" terrorist organisation. Bond parallels abound: Jackson is a scarred clone of M; Marton Csokas the Blofeld-style megalomaniac; Michael Roof a gadget-guru in the Q mould; and Italian sensation Asia Argento is "the girl", with little to do but switch romantic allegiance from villain to hero. Diesel doesn't have Bond's deft control of a one-liner and overall the film lacks wit - as well as consistent plotting - but the stunts are overblown and outrageous enough to produce sheer adrenaline-pumping excitement.

Summary

Extreme sports star Xander Cage finds himself in trouble when his daredevil exploits land him behind bars. However, he is offered an intriguing escape route, courtesy of National Security Agent Augustus Gibbons - who thinks the adrenaline junkie is the perfect man to bring down a gang of international terrorists in Prague. Action adventure, starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas and Michael Roof.